Social media may worsen insecurity – NASS clerk

The clerk to the National Assembly, Amos Ojo, has urged Nigerians to support the security agencies in their effort to address the security challenges bedeviling the country.

He expressed concern over the escalation of the growing insecurity via social media, while stressing the need to strengthen the country’s security architecture.

Ojo made the call in his opening remarks at the two-day Retreat on National Security Legislative Reform organised by Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung for members of the Senate.

According to the CNA, the retreat was organised to address issues relating to the overlapping mandates of security agencies in Nigeria.

He said, “The study conducted by KAS in 2020 revealed that the duplication of duties and lack of proper coordination between security agencies often lead to conflicting views on fundamental security issues.

“The consequences of inter-agency rivalry have far-reaching implications on national security and exacerbate the already existing security challenges confronting the country.

“The findings of KAS shone more light on intricacies associated with some laws guiding the operations of security agencies which included overlap of functions, unclear delineation of functions, conflicting description of conditions and guidelines for collaboration between security agencies.

“Still on the negative, the social media is having a filled day feasting on such conflicts, especially the inter-agency rivalry, as have been witnessed between security personnel arising from circulation of texts, pictures and videos.

“It is our duty as citizens, to support our security agencies and not to escalate situations through social media. These counter-productive challenges need our conterminous attention, or may worsen.”

The CNA noted that in order to amend all existing “incongruous legislations” and make provisions that would eliminate counter-productivity and ensure inter-agency collaboration, deliberate efforts and resources are required.

He said, “Today and tomorrow have been geared up for open and frank discussions as well as concrete deliberations on all issues raised. You will see from the programme that technical sessions have been scheduled for robust discussions on alternate strategies that would improve on these draft bills that aim to address the aforementioned problems.”